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Nintendo 3DS Right Shoulder Button Replacement

Introduction

Get back your R button functionality with a new right shoulder button.

What you need

  1. Nintendo 3DS Right Shoulder Button Replacement, Back Cover: step 1, image 1 of 1

    • Unscrew the four Phillips #00 screws along the top of the back cover.

    • The screws are held in place by locking washers, and will not come out of the back cover.

    • The comments section is full of unlucky souls who will tell you that the screws here through step 4 will strip incredibly easily. Press down fairly hard, and go slow.

    Edit

  2. Nintendo 3DS Right Shoulder Button Replacement: step 2, image 1 of 2 Nintendo 3DS Right Shoulder Button Replacement: step 2, image 2 of 2

    • Hold the device in one hand and turn it over.

    • Grab the top edge of the back cover with your opposite hand so that the cover does not fall back into place.

    • Flip the 3DS over again so that the back cover is facing up.

    • Pull the back cover up and away from the rest of the device to remove it.

    Edit

  3. Nintendo 3DS Right Shoulder Button Replacement, Battery: step 3, image 1 of 3 Nintendo 3DS Right Shoulder Button Replacement, Battery: step 3, image 2 of 3 Nintendo 3DS Right Shoulder Button Replacement, Battery: step 3, image 3 of 3

    • Insert a plastic opening tool into the notch in the lower case above the battery.

    • Pry the battery up with the plastic opening tool.

    • Grab the top edge of the battery and lift it out of the lower case.

    Edit

  5. Nintendo 3DS Right Shoulder Button Replacement, Lower Case: step 4, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the nine 6.3 mm black Phillips screws from the lower case.

    • These screws will strip very easily unless you use the correct size bit. Apply pressure to the screws while turning to avoid stripping them.

    • Remove the 2.4 mm silver Phillips screw above the game cartridge slot.

    Edit

  6. Nintendo 3DS Right Shoulder Button Replacement: step 5, image 1 of 3 Nintendo 3DS Right Shoulder Button Replacement: step 5, image 2 of 3 Nintendo 3DS Right Shoulder Button Replacement: step 5, image 3 of 3

    • Lift the bottom edge of the lower case off the rest of the 3DS.

    • There are still two ribbon cables connecting the mother board to the case, so be sure not to pull the lower case all the way off.

    • Use a plastic opening tool to pry the shoulder button ribbon cables off their sockets on the motherboard.

    • Remove the lower case from the device.

    Edit

  7. Nintendo 3DS Right Shoulder Button Replacement, Right Shoulder Button: step 6, image 1 of 3 Nintendo 3DS Right Shoulder Button Replacement, Right Shoulder Button: step 6, image 2 of 3 Nintendo 3DS Right Shoulder Button Replacement, Right Shoulder Button: step 6, image 3 of 3

    • Remove the three 3.6 mm Phillips screws securing the metal battery shield to the lower case.

    • Lift the battery shield up and out of the lower case.

    Edit

  8. Nintendo 3DS Right Shoulder Button Replacement: step 7, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the 3.6 mm Phillips screw from the right shoulder button cover.

    Edit

  9. Nintendo 3DS Right Shoulder Button Replacement: step 8, image 1 of 3 Nintendo 3DS Right Shoulder Button Replacement: step 8, image 2 of 3 Nintendo 3DS Right Shoulder Button Replacement: step 8, image 3 of 3

    • Insert a plastic opening tool under the left side of the right shoulder button cover.

    • Pry the black plastic cover up from the lower case.

    • Grab the cover and lift it off of the lower case.

    • If the shoulder button contact and ribbon cable come off with the cover, be sure to reinstall them in the correct orientation.

    Edit

  10. Nintendo 3DS Right Shoulder Button Replacement: step 9, image 1 of 3 Nintendo 3DS Right Shoulder Button Replacement: step 9, image 2 of 3 Nintendo 3DS Right Shoulder Button Replacement: step 9, image 3 of 3

    • Lift the right shoulder button out of the lower case.

    • The shoulder button is held in place by a metal pin, and houses a small spring. Take care not to lose track of either of these pieces when removing the shoulder button.

    Edit
Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

69 other people completed this guide.

Author

with 6 other contributors

David Hodson

Member since: 04/13/10

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18 Comments

Well done, thanks for the help, I had small problems with step 9 because of all those small parts but I managed to put everything back as it was. Thanks again :D

BlackZX - Reply

The ribbon came off the socket, now it is stuck and we cannot pull it out. How do you remove the socket without the ribbon. We attempted tweezers, but it did not budge. May have scratched things up a bit too. Help!! Thank you! We just want to pull it out and get another replacement right shoulder ribbon.

misdiva001 - Reply

Did you ever figure out how to get it out? I have the same problem. I changed the ribbon with a 3rd party part and the bad solder job broke and the part is still left in the socket. My only option is to use crazy glue and a pin or something small to glue to it and then pull it out…but I don’t have any krazy glue!

Chris -

Amazing guide, thank you!!

Daniel O - Reply

It was great! Phenomenal! I loved it! But... What happens if I accidentally snapped the L button's ribbon cable..? Can I just replace it..? Somehow..?

dalton haglund - Reply

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